ASC History

About ASC and Our History

Birthday: August 19, 2001

Club Beginnings
The club was christened the “Annapolis Surf Club” on August 19, 2001, during a freakish meeting that took place in the lineup in Ocean City, Md. But the club's concept was born many moons earlier during Neal Carver and Bruce Gabrielson's many drives to and from DelMarVa surf sessions. Neal and Bruce began their surf odyssey in January 2001, by meeting at a convenient location in Annapolis, loading piles of cold water surf gear into the surf vehicle of the day, and hauling ass down to the shore to ride some cold waves. As the winter turned into summer, scheduling conflicts arose and Neal and Bruce found it tough to meet up on the same days. Nonetheless, Neal and Bruce began discussing the possibility of a local surf club that could meet up and share the beach commute. They knew a number of surfers that had professional careers in and around the Washington and Baltimore corridor that also loved to surf.

In May 2001, Kirk contacted Rod via e-mail, having read his posts on the alt.surfing newsgroup and after finding his web page. They corresponded back and forth several times before realizing they lived only about 12 miles apart. They never met until the chance meeting in August because of Rod's heavy involvement with his son's summer league baseball team.

In June 2001, Neal posted on the Beach-Net forum asking about other inlanders. Kirk replied and they hooked up for an initial surf trip in July 2001. Neal told of his surfing adventures with Bruce that had started during the winter. Foon, KC and Rod already knew each other from alt.surfing activities and knew of Bruce, but had not met him until the day before the inaugural blood ritual.

Official Club Info on the Web

Official Club Info on the Members' Forum

Budget
Officers' Conflict of Interest Policy
Meeting Minutes

Board Meetings
General Membership Meetings

Other Club Info of a Special Interest

Open Letter to the Members About Becoming a Non-Profit Organization and Dues Paying Membership Club

A Short Word About Our Forums
The Annapolis Surf Club was formed to help facilitate the need for us to satisfy that burning passion to surf. The list serve, and later the SurfASC Forums, were created strictly for the puposes to discuss local surf forecasts, set up car pools, report on sessions and coordinate function planning. The list serve is not to be used to boost one's ego, pimp a business, put down others, or constantly display your sense of humor. Repeated abuse may result in your removal from the forum. Please keep your post on topic and use private email for comments and unrelated discussion. Thank you.

President, Annapolis Surf Club

Club Birthing & Inauguration Day - 8/19/01
August 18, 2001 - KC and Rod head down to OC for a weekend of surf and fun at the Foonbunker, attend a Surfrider meeting, and hook-up for an initial meeting with Bruce Gabrielson.

On August 19, 2001, a freakish (first blood!) meeting took place in the lineup in Ocean City, Md. Foon, KC, Rod and Bruce run into Neal and Kirk at 64th Street. The group took a blood oath (Foon's blood) to form the club and determined there was potential to go far beyond a ride sharing surf group. Needless to say, everyone was getting stoked on the idea. The name, Annapolis Surf Club, seemed fitting since Annapolis was our meeting place.

One Week Later at Snake's Annual Luau
Neal, Bruce, Rod, and KC at Snake's Aug 2001 Luau
Pictured are four ASC Charter Members
(L-R) Neal, Bruce, Rod, and KC (Missing: Kirk and Foon).

A freakish meeting that resulted in the formation of the ASC and bloody injuries. Click to see Foon's skeg slash injury close-up

ASC Draws First Blood!
(L to R): KC, Snake, Rod, Foon, Neal, Kirk.

Neal and his brother-in-law put the first ASC web page together in September 2001. Rod started hosting and maintaining the web page in March 2002.

On October 15, 2001, Neal established the ASC's e-mail listserv at "Yahoo! Groups" so that everyone could communicate about their day trip plans and other activities. The Yahoo site also allows members to post photos, maintain a club calendar, conduct polls and more.

ASC 1st Surfabout - November 18, 2001
The Annapolis Surf Club scheduled its first club surf on November 18, 2001. Seven members drove down to OC/Md together for a day of surfing and camaraderie.

<<Robb's ASC Party. Breakout of the ASC Hats>>

On December 1, 2001, the ASC held its Inaugural Surf Sacrifice Party, hosted by Neal Carver. Several hand carved mini surfboards were burned in honor of the surf gods.

<<add pic>>

By early 2002, the group has grown to 25 members and is in the planning stages of an international surf trip. All this while maintaining the local stoke. LONG LIVE THE ASC!!!

First planned ASC outing... down to the DelMarVa shore, OC/Md.

ASC Members Post Session on 11/18/2001
(L to R) Rob Smith, Rod Rodgers, Neal Carver, Bruce Gabrielson, KC Filer, Kirk Mantay, Doug Rhodes (still in the water)

The ASC Club banner was officially unveiled at the July 13, 2002, "Toes on the Nose" Team Surf Contest, hosted by Surfrider Foundation. The Club finished dead last in the "competition" this year but easily outpaced all others in fun and pure stoke. Bruce Gabrielson will compete with the team next sure to help ensure a tiki trophy for the team (we can also use the coaching as none of the team had ever been in a surfing contest!). See pictures and reports on the report page.

Aug. 16, 2002 - First Anniversary Blue Crush Special. Club members and spouses celebrate the Club's first anniversary by watching Blue Crush on opening night with post show eats at Gallway Bay Pub & Restaurant. Pictured from left to right, standing: Jill Smith, Beth Rodgers, Neal Carver, Rob Smith, Missy Smith and friend, Mrs. and Mike McCourt, Bruce Gabrielson. In the tuck-in tubular position: Kirk Mantay and Rod Rodgers.
Sept 14-19, 2002 - First ASC Surf Trip - Cape Hatteras
Dec. 6, 2002 - ASC'ers stoked on the Los Straitjackets. "The 45s" opened with some good rippin' sounds.
April 2-9, 2003 - Costa Rica Trip.
May 16-18, 2003 - ASC Guys Surf Weekend, in Bethany Beach (Doug's house). A great time was had by all -- many overnight guests for one or two nights and day visitors. Thanks Doug! See the full report.
August 10, 2003 - The club is the subject of a feature article in the Annapolis Gazette and later in the week makes the front page of the Crofton Crier.
August 16, 2003 - ASC 2nd Anniversary Birthday Party @ Assateague National Seashore (Northside) -- BBQ and Family Picnic -- All Day -- Distribution of our first ASC t-shirts! Read about it in the reports section.
June 11-13, 2004 - ASC Guys and Gals Weekend & Toes on the Nose (TOTN) Longboard Team Challenge Surfrider Foundation OC Weekend
Dec 17, 2004 - ASC Pre Winter Solstice Christmas Party, 7pm to 10pm, at the Ego Alley on the City Dock, Annapolis. The Samson Room (2nd floor) belonged to the ASC. We had a great turnout with over 30 members and spouses.
May 13-15, 2005 - ASC Weekend @ The Casa de Love Beach Shack, Rehoboth Beach. Sat night Luau. Chet's Rules of Behavior at The Beach Shack. The weekend was a great success with many members new and old. Many mahalos to Chet and Barbara!
ASC Board of Directors Adopt Official Bylaws. As of June 2005, the Articles of Incorporation for the Annapolis Surf Club, Inc. ("ASC") were accepted by State of Maryland. The ASC has also acquired a federal EIN. Under Federal law the ASC can now operate as a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation in the State of Maryland. Your officers and directors are listed at the Members page. As stated in the Bylaws, "The election of the Board shall occur once per year during the fall meeting of the membership with results effective the first day of the following year."
July 15, 2005 - "New" ASC Kickoff Party @ Casa Carver. All of the founding members are in attendance except two (out-of-town travel commitments).
May 12-14, 2006 - ASC Spring Fling @ The Chet and Barbara Beach Shack. Members spent the weekend surfing, eating and sharing stories and laughter at the beach home of a gracious host member. Participants provided food and drink for themselves and others. Friday night was a dinner party at Dos Locos, featuring the Neal "Hammered" Carver, mastering and overcoming challenges of the salt. Saturday was a luau and short club meeting.
May 13, 2006 - Marcus Page Memorial Paddleout - at Ocean City's 37th St. (Castles in the Sand). Big Wave Dave remembers a local surfing buddy who recently died at the Hatteras Lighthouse groin.
February 2007 - ASC Signs Adoption Papers for Gordon's Pond. That's right, the ASC has adopted the Gordon's Pond area in Cape Henlopen State Park as part of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Adopt a Beach program, effective February 2007. Adopting this beach obligates our group to conduct bi-annual clean-ups in the Spring and the Fall. Look for a sign proclaiming ASC's stewardship of Gordon's Pond.

Key Milestones

January 2001 – Future founding fathers Neal Carver and Bruce “Snake” Gabrielson begin surfing together
May 2001 - Kirk Mantay begins sending email to Rod; Kirk and Neal have been lurking on the alt.surfing newsgroup
June 2001 - Rod tells fellow alt.surfing buddies, Foon and KC, about the emails
August 18, 2001 - ASers KC, Rod, and Foon meet itinerant ASer HB Snake
August 19, 2001 - AS gang surf 64th St. for a freakish encounter with Neal and Kirk... we finally all meet. Foon draws 1st blood!
November 18, 2001 - Inaugural ASC club outing with three cars packed to the beach
December 1, 2001- Inaugural Surf Sacrifice Party hosted by the ASC Kahuna
June 29, 2002 - Kahuna Carver's Key West Fest
July 13, 2002 - ASC Club Banner unveiled at the "Toes on the Nose" Surf Contest
August 16, 2002 - ASC's 1st Anniversary Celebration - Blue Crush Opening Night w/Post Show Treats at Galway Bay Pub
Sept 14-19, 2002 - First ASC Surf Trip - Cape Hatteras - alt.surfing's GuidoPalooza 2002
April 2-9, 2003 - First Overseas Surf Trip Takes ASC'ers to Costa Rica
Late 2003 - Membership climbs to over 70 on the listserv
Late 2004 - Membership on the Yahoo! Groups site eclipses 100
February 2005 - Board of Kahunas begins exploratory work on moving ASC to official non-profit status.
April 18, 2005 - ASC holds first Board Meeting and adopts official Bylaws.
June 2, 2005 - Articles of Incorporation for the Annapolis Surf Club, Inc. ("ASC") accepted by State of Maryland
July 15, 2005 - "New" ASC Kickoff Party accepts first applications and dues
February 2007 - ASC Adopts Gordon's Pond.

Founding Members
Neal Carver - Kahuna and inspiration (Aug. 2001)
Bruce Gabrielson - encouraged Neal to form the club and recruited early contacts (Aug. 2001)
Kirk Mantay (Aug. 2001)
K.C. Filer (Aug. 2001)
Rod Rodgers (Aug. 2001)
Warren "Foon" Overman (Aug. 2001)

ASC Directors Present and Past
Officers and Board Members 2011	Name
o President o Vice President o Treasurer o Membership Coordinator o Secretary o At Large Board Member o At Large Board Member o At Large Board Member	Rod Rodgers Mike McDowell Mike McDowell (acting) Paul Moos Neal Carver (acting) Gary Lay Giles Cook Neal Carver
Officers and Board Members 2010	Name
o President o Vice President o Treasurer o Membership Coordinator o Secretary o At Large Board Member o At Large Board Member o At Large Board Member	Gary Lay Mike McDowell Bryan Stringer Paul Moos John Malone Chris Smith Jean Neville Jeff Marlow
Officers and Board Members 2009	Name
o President o Vice President o Treasurer o Membership Coordinator o Secretary o At Large Board Member o At Large Board Member o At Large Board Member	Gary Lay Paul Moos Rod Rodgers Alex "Westy" Westholm Mike McDowell Bryan Stringer Emile Monette KC Filer
Officers and Board Members 2008	Name
o President o Vice President o Treasurer o Membership Coordinator o Secretary o At Large Board Member o At Large Board Member o At Large Board Member	Gary Lay Giles Cook Matt Bancroft Neal Carver Mike McDowell Kary Semborski Paul Moos Doug Norris
Officers and Board Members 2007	Name
o President o Vice President o Treasurer o Membership Coordinator o Secretary o At Large Board Member o At Large Board Member o At Large Board Member	Neal Carver Kirk Mantay Matt Bancroft Chet Halleck Paul Martin Doug Norris Kary Semborski Paul Moos
Officers and Board Members 2006	Name
o President o Vice President o Treasurer o Membership Coordinator o Secretary o At Large Board Member o At Large Board Member o At Large Board Member	Neal Carver Jeff Marlow Matt Bancroft Chris Smith Paul Moos Chet Halleck Cory Miller Doug Rhodes
Officers and Board Members 2005	Name
o President o Vice President o Treasurer o Membership Coordinator o Secretary o At Large Board Member o At Large Board Member o At Large Board Member	Neal Carver Jeff Marlow Rod Rodgers Chris Smith Paul Moos Kirk Mantay Paul Martin Warren "Foon" Overman

All contents of this site ©2001-2012 Annapolis Surf Club, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit, public charitable organization. All rights reserved. All images within this section copyright of respective credited contributor. Dedicated to promote the surfing lifestyle and fellowship through the promotion of surf-related activities and to support efforts to create and maintain a clean, safe and healthy coastal environment.

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Last updated on: 04/16/11